andor's trail eZ (and other imitations)

[Gottkaiser]

I just saw this application in the android market, does anyone have a idea what (and from who) it is?

[Mino]

I just saw this application in the android market, does anyone have a idea what (and from who) it is?

Looks like sdevaney already left a comment letting people know its a blatant rip-off but with ads. They even copied the game description exactly from Oskar's original, except to add that its based on his game, except "based on" isn't supposed to be the same as copying and reselling.

Hopefully the fact that it requires full internet access permissions and takes up an extra 3.3 MB will turn people away from it too.

[sdevaney]

It would be acceptable use under the GPL if that person changed something about the app to make it different but a copy that simply adds advertisements to make money from is not. But that is the other side of doing an open source project. I just wanted people to be informed about the actual facts of the situation. Normally I wouldn't even waste my time to post a comment. I even downloaded it and played a little bit to see if some content was changed and nothing besides the addition of advertisements and replacing the "About" section with a chat box was changed. Taking away all reference from the original contributors.

[Mino]

I'd like to think your comment will help guide people to the real game, since most would rather download the original creator's version, especially if there's no real difference. And even those who don't care will still go for the ad-free version.

[mirajp1]

well, there are two of them
one by ez and other by Z-team.!!!

edit: the one by Z-team is not on market but present in appbrain.!!

[mirajp1]

found other one by ez
https://market.android.com/details?id=f ... _developer

[Kardinaal]

IIRC they should let you download source and give credit to the original somewhere. If they don't, you can contact the market people or even take legal action if you want...

[last_pawn]

there's a new one on the market now by "changer" called Andor's Trail Pro. same thing, extra 3mb, internet connection required and a blatant rip off.

[sdevaney]

All these ripoffs are in blatant violation of the GPL. The largest issue is that any modification of the source code has to be released to the public, which to my knowledge none of the ripoffs have released any modified source code. The second largest issue is that they have to acknowledge the original authors, which all of them seem to not do by removing the "About" section. Not to mention the copyright theft which is a different matter all together.

The great thing about the GPL is that it allows information to be free (as in free speech, not free beer). We provide this project completely for free (even though there are costs associated with it) and yet there are these other people who only wish to profit from our work and contributing none of their own to the project. To me that is the single most frustrating thing that happens with open source software and licenses such as the GPL.

We are exploring all our options before any action is taken. Thank you for reporting these ripoffs as well as any others that may come up.
sdevaney

[last_pawn]

Well done to the Andor's Trail team! I flagged Changers "Andor's Trail Pro" as inappropriate yesterday (for not acknowledging Oskar, for not publishing their modifications of the source code, and for being money hungry rip offs) This morning it's no longer on the market. If we continue to be vigilant, they will not succeed.

Please let us know if their is ever an intention to release to the market a "lite" or "easy" version or a second app in any form. I will continue to flag any app claiming to be Andor's Trail not published by Oskar.